Electric-lighting socket



July 30, 1929. E. F. GUTH l,722,7 l 3 ELECTRIC LIGHTINGLSOCKET Original Filed Dec. 6, 1927 1,3 g i! m 2 INVENTOR Cam Q ATTORNEYS Patented July 30, 1929.

EDWIN F. GUTH, OF'ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ELECTRIC-LIGHTING SOCKET.

Application filed December 6, 1927, Serial No. 238,104. Renewed. June 15, 1929.

My invention relates to the kind of sockets disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 184,873, although it may be found useful in other sockets which are constructed of electrical insulating material.

My invention has for its object, the provision of a cap for such sockets, which will provide for the connection of wires which come to the fixture through the central nipple or hollow stud of an outlet box, or it is equally available when it is desirable to spread or divide the wires, where they are not led in through the central nipple or hollow stud of said outlet box, or where the wires are led to the socket through a fixture stem.

My invention has for its further object, to provide means which will insure the cap always registering with the openings in the socket through which are passed the supporting screws, so that, regardless of the action of the workman in turning the socket around when the cap is disconnected, it will be automatically brought into position so the screws will be in register to enter the threaded openings prepared in the cap for their reception. This serves to materially decrease the labor in assembling, and hence is most desirable.

By means of accomplishing the foregoing objects may be more readily understood by having reference to the accompanying drawings, which are hereunto annexed and made a part of this specification, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a socket equipped with my improved cap;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing connections for a different form of wiring;

Fig. 3, is a top or plan view of my improved cap;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 44 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the socket, showing the means for insuring registering of the cap with the supporting screws.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the entire description.

As shown in the drawings, my improved socket l is formed of insulating material, and is provided with the standard threaded receptacle 2 for the electric lamp bulb. The socket 1 has a cap 3 secured to itsupper end a, by means of tea screws 5 and 6, mounted screwed on to the central stud 12 of the outlet box '13. Two peripheral notches, 14 and 15, are cut in the cap 3, the sides of-which lit the upstanding lugs 16 and 17 formed in the top of the socket 1. These notches 14 and 15 are made deep enough to leave a space' 30 intermediate the inner surface of the lugs 16 and 17 and the back of the notches 14 and 15, so as to permit the wires 23 and 24: to be led through the space 30 when the outlet wires do not come through the central stud 12. The lugs 16 and 17 serve to insure the holes 9 and 10 always registering with the screws 5 and 6 whenever the cap 3 is placed so that the peripheral notches 14 and 15 straddle the lugs 16 and 17. Intermediate the cap 3 and the socket 1, I place a sheet of insulating material 18. This is out at 19 and 20 so as to provide cars 21 and 22 which can be upturned, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this manner I accomplish a double result: I shield the wires 23 and24 from the edge 25 of the cap 3, thus preventing the chafing of the insulation; and I also provide additional insulation for the cap 3, so that even if the wire were bare it would not cause a short. As I form the central neck 11 hollow, it follows that when the wires 23 and 24 are to be connected through the stud 12 of the outlet box 13 they can be led in as shown in Fig. 1.

Having described my invention, what I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a device of the character described, an electric socket of insulating material, upwardly extending peripheral lugs on its top, a metal cap, a central neck thereon which is internally threaded, said cap having peripheral notches therein, the sides of which engage said lugs, there being a space between the inner surface of each of said lugs and the end of its notch, screws mounted in said socket which engage screw-threaded openings in said cap, a layer of insulating material intermediate said cap and said socket, and ears thereon which est-end upwardly through said s aces;

2. In a device of the character described, an the inner surface of each of said lugs and the electric socket of insulating material, upend of its notch, screws mounted in said wardlyextending peripheral lugs on its top, socket which engage screw-threaded open- 10 a metal cap,'a central neck thereon which is ings in said cap, and means to insulate the 5 internally threaded, said cap having periphbases of said notches.

eral notches therein, the sides of which engage said lugs, there being a space between EDWVIN F. GUTH 

